Envoy-designate going to Rome by month-end

We have moved forward, says External Affairs Ministry spokesman

While discussions are on to comply with the Supreme Court’s observations on the trial of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February last year, the government has decided to put the bitterness with Rome behind by deciding to send its Ambassador-designate to take up his posting towards the end of this month.

“There has been no decision on the investigating agency,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin adding that “obviously discussions are under way on what to provide to the Supreme Court’’ at its next hearing of the case on April 16.

Asked why the government was taking time to put into effect the Supreme Court’s observations on the setting up of a special court, he sought greater understanding of the situation.

As The Hindu had reported, South Block will consider normalisation of diplomatic ties with Italy only after the Supreme Court took up the matter last Tuesday.

With Italy sending back the marines and the Supreme Court letting Italian envoy Daniel Mancini off the hook, the government plans to send the Ambassador-designate Basant Kumar Gupta to Rome by the end of the month.